The lowest deals were in the public sector and not-for-profit organisations at 1%, while in private firms the median rise was 2%.

XpertHR pay and benefits editor Sheila Attwood said: "Although there has been a dip in whole-economy pay awards over the past three rolling quarters, in the private sector pay settlements are still worth 2% at the median, in line with the forecasts made by employers at the start of the year.

"It remains to be seen how the uncertainty around the impact of the Brexit vote will feed through to pay settlements, but we are likely to see pay awards remaining subdued for many months to come."